Free gift-------eternal life in Jesus Christ our LORD!!!

 

   If you have ever memorized a verse of Scripture, most likely it is John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." It is the verse most often heard in the simplicity and beauty of a little child's voice proudly reciting it from memory. And it is the verse most often whispered by aged saints as they breath their last breaths. It is the entire gospel in a nutshell.

   John 3:16 speaks of the cause of this great salvation: "For God so loved. . ." The single motivating factor behind God's entire redemptive plan is His love for you and me. This beloved verse also speaks of the cost of this salvation: "He gave His only Son." Jesus paid a high price to redeem us to Himself-death on a Roman cross outside the city gates of Jerusalem. And salvation's condition? "Whosoever believes in Him. . ." That speaks of me. It speaks of you. And any and all may come, placing their faith in Him alone. Finally, this verse speaks of salvation's consequence: We "shall not perish but have everlasting life." Those without Christ are perishing. . . a little more each day.

  Let God love you today as you meditate on this old and oft-repeated promise.

The gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23

Hawkins, O.S. THE Easter CODE, A 40-DAY JOURNEY TO THE CROSS, Nelson Publishing, 2019, page 60.

Psalm 23 A psalm of David.

The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.

He lets me rest in green meadows; He leads me beside peaceful streams.

He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to His name.

Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for You are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.

You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings.

Surely goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever.

Psalm 23 NLT - Psalm 23 - A psalm of David. The LORD - Bible Gateway

United by the Gospel

Every one of us was created with a free will to think and choose; my belief is that we are ALL created in the image of Holy God. Sometimes I can and sometimes I cannot change my circumstances, but I can ALWAYS change my way of thinking or my focus in the circumstance. In this blog, I would like to share a few of my survival strategies learned in my 80+ years. Where do I try to focus? What am I learning?

  

Since January 1, 2020, I have been reading the LifePrinciples Daily Bible by Charles F. Stanley. This devotional combines a growing knowledge and understanding of God through His Word. Every reading combines something from the Old Testament, Psalms, Proverbs and the New Testament. Only by example can I hopefully explain how the four separate readings connect with knowledge and understanding. The first reading is Genesis 1-2, creation, Life Principle “Our Intimacy with God—His highest priority for our lives—determines the impact of our lives.” In Psalm 1, I learn “…in His law he meditates day and night…” In Proverbs 1, I learn “to receive instruction is wise behavior…” In Matthew 1, I read the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah.

A few examples of recent scriptures that have encouraged me:

Proverbs 21:2 “People think they are doing what is right, but the Lord knows the heart.” :10 “Evil people love to harm others; their neighbors get no mercy from them.” :30 “Human plans, no matter how wise or well advised, cannot stand against the LORD.” :31 “The horses are prepared for battle, but the victory belongs to the LORD.”

John 13: 24-25 “A new commandment I give you that you love one another, even as I have loved you that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

John 17:20-26, especially “…that they all be one…” The following excerpt is from The Tony Evans Bible Commentary page 1057.

   He [Jesus] prayed that all believers would all be one —that is, experience unity. Legitimate unity is not uniformity or sameness. Rather, Jesus was talking about being unified in God and his purposes. That’s why he prayed, May they also be in us, so that the world may believe you sent me.

   A football team consists of different players filling different positions with different roles. But the entire team has one purpose: reaching the goal line. Their unity consists of pursuing that one goal according to the rules of the game. The church of Jesus Christ is composed of people from every race, ethnicity, gender, and walk of life. But we have the common purpose of proclaiming the gospel and pursuing God’s kingdom agenda. Our effectiveness is determined by our unity. That’s why Satan works so hard at causing division among Christians and within churches.   Please read the rest of this commentary.

1 Peter 5:7 “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” KJ biblegateway.com

Please listen to “Does Jesus Care?” by Frank E. Graeff recorded by Gaither Music.

United by the Gospel; how has the good news of Jesus Christ comforted you? I have written about how I am comforted during difficult circumstances. How do you find comfort in a time of turmoil? Please share your thoughts, where do you go for encouragement? The Gospel will unite us in prayer and action. Thank you.

What Takes Place After Salvation

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

New International Version (NIV) www.biblegateway.com/

To truly grasp what Jesus did for us on the cross - and to be able to share the gospel effectively - it's essential to have an accurate understanding of the terms we use to describe salvation.

   SAVED (Ephesians 2:8). This is synonym for rescued. Mankind needs rescuing because without Jesus, we are all destined for divine wrath, hell, and eternal separation from God.

  REDEEMED (Ephesians 1:7) Redemption implies a transaction. Our salvation was purchased through the shedding of Jesus Christ's blood.

   JUSTIFIED (Romans 5:1). When someone trusts in Christ, God pardons that person and removes his or her guilt. A saved individual is in right standing with the Lord. 

   RECONCILED (2 Corinthians 5:18-21). Salvation results in a relationship with God. We were once separated from Him, but now we are His sons and daughters, and He calls us His friends (John 15:15).

   Using words like redemption, justification, and reconciliation might not be effective when presenting the gospel to someone unfamiliar with the language often used in church. However, it's important for us to understand what the Bible teaches about salvation, and these terms give us a framework for explaining the good news to others.

   We must recognize that we are not saved by our personal works or performance. Salvation is ours by God's grace - His unmerited, undeserved, loving favor toward us - and at the cost of Jesus' own blood. Let us not take for granted how God has rescued us: by sending His Son to die in our place.

Stanley, Charles F. "What Takes Place After Salvation." In Touch: Daily Reading for Devoted Living. February 2019. Atlanta: In Touch Ministries. page 35.

The Heart of Our Testimony

1 Corinthians 1:22-24

²² Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, ²³ but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, ²⁴ but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.     NIV Bible Gateway.com   

Testimonies that fail to mention the crucifixion lack power. However, in an attempt to be "seeker-friendly," some believers soften the gospel so it seems more inviting. But the hard truth is, Jesus Christ died for our sins.
   To witness effectively, we must confront unbelievers with their sin debt and explain that Jesus gave His life to pay it in full. But presenting platitudes is easier than creating a well-planned gospel presentation. For example the following statement is truthful and pleasing to the ear: "You are saved when you receive Jesus as Savior." The problem is, it falls short of making known the actual path to salation. An instructive testimony should contain three follow-up points: a description of who Jesus is, an explanation of God's only plan of salvation, and what a person must believe and do in order to receive Christ.
   Certainly, one can be saved without fully grasping the role of the cross. However, new believers begin their spiritual journey much wiser if they know the source of their salvation. Ironically, we're truly seeker-friendly when we offer a full picture of Christianity rather than a few expressions that are truthful but trite.
   Think about the words you use to spread the gospel. Our society is increasingly illiterate in terms of Scripture. Those with whom you have opportunity to share may know little about Jesus - you might be the only person in their life with any real biblical knowledge. Pray and then prepare an instructive message focused on the cross. Then go out and make disciples for Christ! 
Stanley, Charles F. "The Heart of Our Testimony." In Touch: Daily Readings For Devoted Living September 2016. Atlanta: In Touch Ministries. page 13.

A. B. (Albert Benjamin) Simpson (1843-1919)

   From the Institute for the Study of American Evangelicals,  A(lbert) B(enjamin) Simpson (1843-1919), evangelist, founder of the Christian & Missionary Alliance was born on Prince Edward Island, the son of Scottish Presbyterian parents. The brief biography continues with "Simpson touted a 'fourfold Gospel' of Christ as 'Saviour, Sanctifier, Healer, and Coming King,..'” A 128 page book published by the Christian Alliance in 1925, provides a deep and rich experience of God's love and grace. Each of the four topics are explored and explained in a language everyone that desires can understand. The last chapter, "Kept," begins and ends with II Timothy 1:12. On page 128, the author ends by asking, "The great question for you and me is, how much have we really committed?"

31 Kings or Victory over Self by A.B. Simpson

“These are the kings of the land that Joshua and the Israelites conquered on the west side of the Jordan… thirty-one kings in all” (Joshua 12:7-24)

There are various forms of self-life which need to be subdued and slain before the soul can be in perfect harmony with the divine will. They are tyrants, which, if allowed to remain, will ultimately bring us into subjection to sin and separate us from the Lord.

There is a foe whose hidden power,

The Christian well may fear,

More subtle far than inbred sin

And to the heart more dear.

It is the power of selfishness,

It is the willful I,

And e’er my Lord can live in me

My very self must die.

There is, like Anak’s sons of old,

A race of giants still,

Self-glory, self-confidence,

Self-seeking and self-will.

Still must these haughty Anakim

By Caleb’s sword be slain,

E’er Hebron’s heights of heavenly love

Our conquering feet can gain.

Oh, save me from self-will, dear Lord,

Which claims Thy sacred Throne;

Oh, let my will be lost in Thine;

And let Thy will be done.

Oh, keep me from self-confidence,

And self-sufficiency;

Let me exchange my strength for Thine,

And lean alone on Thee.

On, Save me from self-seeking, Lord.

Let me not be my own,

A living sacrifice I come-

Lord, keep me Thine alone;

From proud vain-glory save me, Lord,

From pride of praise and fame;

To Christ be all the honor given,

The glory of His Name.

O Jesus, slay the self in me,

By Thy consuming breath;

Show me Thy heart, Thy wounds, Thy shame,

And love my soul to death.

When the Shekinah flame came down,

E’er Moses could not say;

So let Thy glory fill me now,

And self forever slay.

O Jesus, come and dwell in me,

Walk in my steps each day,

Love in my life, love in my love,

And speak in all I say;

Think in my thoughts, let all my acts

Thy very actions be,

So shall it be no longer I,

But Christ that lives in me.

This book identifies and gives scripture on “self” and then asks the question, “How shall we overcome these giant Anakim? How shall we win the victory over self? How shall we possess Hebron, the city of love?”

 Due to space you can read the answers for yourself in 31 Kings by A.B. Simpson.

Just a quick hint:

• We must hand over self and all its rights in an eternal covenant and give God the absolute right to own us, control us and possess us forever.   
• We must let God make this real in detail, as each day brings its tests and conflicts, and each of these 31 kings comes face to face before us.  
• We must receive the great antidote to self-the love of Christ.

Jesus Christ, the Seeking Savior

John 3:16-17

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.   NIV   Bible Gateway.com

   In this busy and impersonal high-tech world, it seems easier than ever to ignore Jesus Christ. We are led to believe that every challenge can be met quickly and self-sufficiently, often through some online resource. After all, if we want to keep our eyes on the future, why seek a Savior from 2,000 years ago?
   As we look to ourselves more and more for answers, we become increasingly susceptible to a dangerous trap - the idea that we can handle life on our own and don't need Jesus. Nothing could be further from the truth.
   All through the Bible, we see God taking the initiative in the salvation of man. None of us who are saved have sought Him out; we've just responded to the way He has drawn us to Him (John 6:44). God made the first move: He chose to save us, and then our response followed.
   Today's passage underscores our need for Jesus - it clearly teaches that the Father gave His Son so we might be saved. Without Jesus, we would be utterly without hope of eternal life and would parish instead.
   Now think about the Lord's parting instructions to His disciples. Did He say to sit idly by and simply mention His name to anyone who walked past? No! He said, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation" (Mark 16:15). He wants the good news to go forth because He is still seeking the lost today.
   Our omniscient, omnipotent Savior can meet needs better than the most capable among us. If you don't know Jesus, He's looking for you (Luke 19:10). If you do know Him, won't you share His great news with the world? 
Stanley, Charles F. "Jesus Christ, the Seeking Savior." In Touch: Daily Readings For Devoted Living October 2016. Atlanta: In Touch Ministries. page 7. 

The Reason for Our Boldness

Philippians 1:19-20Revised Standard Version (RSV)

19 Yes, and I shall rejoice. For I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, 20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I shall not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. https://www.biblegateway.com

   Even though Christians are familiar with the gospel, many are reluctant to share their faith with others because they don't feel capable of explaining it. When we lack confidence in our knowledge of salvation through Jesus Christ, fear of negative reactions or possible questions can keep us silent. What if we don't have the answers or end up looking like a fool? It's just too intimidating.

   But remember, God has given us the most important message in the world. Since were confronted by so many unscriptural philosophies and religious deceptions, we need to understand the gospel and be able to present it with confidence and boldness. We can't let fear or ignorance keep us from giving lost people the only message that can change a person's eternal destiny.

   The apostle Paul welcomed every opportunity to tell people about Christ, because he focused on the gospel's life-changing power rather than the possible negative reactions. Often, the reason we're ashamed to talk about our faith is that we're concerned about ourselves. If we look at the hurting people around us, express a genuine interest in them, and ask God to open a door for us to share our faith with them, he will answer that prayer.
   We tend to be motivated by temporal activities that eventually fade away. But souls are forever, and people need to know the Savior. Look for opportunities to reach out to those around you - notice their expressions; ask how they're doing. When their need stirs your heart, you'll be eager to offer them the gospel.
Stanley, Charles F., "The Reason for our Boldness," In Touch: Daily Reading for Devoted Living December 2015, Atlanta, In Touch Ministries, page 19.

Things That Cannot Be Shaken

 

  Hebrews 12:25-29 (NIV)

²⁵ See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? ²⁶ At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” ²⁷ The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.
²⁸ Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, ²⁹ for our “God is a consuming fire.”
Bible Gateway

   Television news is often filled with interviews and images of people who have suffered some unimaginable tragedy. One day we're shown tornado survivors whose homes were torn apart by powerful winds. Another day we may see massive floods sweeping through an unsuspecting neighborhood. Occasionally, we even view homes that are swallowed whole by terrible earthquakes. The expressions on the faces of those who have suffered loss can be haunting.
   Losses like these always draw our attention toward the fragility of those things we hold most dear - such as our homes, families and careers. We seldom like wake-up calls that remind us of the inherent instability of earthly life.
   But in a world that oftentimes seems to be falling apart, believers in the Lord Jesus Christ have the privilege of sharing the best news imaginable: We have something that is stable, something that is completely secure. There is a rock on which we are able to stand, and it cannot be shaken. That foundation, of course, is almighty God.
   The Lord gives us other immovable truths as well. We can trust that Scripture is His unchanging, relevant truth for all time. We can forever depend on a secure eternal relationship with Him though His Son. And we can be sure that an everlasting heavenly home awaits all those who place their faith in Jesus Christ. We can have stability, even in this unstable world.
   Do you have someone in your life who needs this life-saving good news - someone who is drowning, desperately needing you to throw a lifeline? Don't wait; share it today.
Stanley, Charles F., Things That Cannot Be Shaken, In Touch Daily Readings for Devoted Living, Atlanta, GA: In Touch Ministries, August 2015, page 36.

"Healing of Memories" by David A. Seamands

Healing of Memories by David A. Seamands

   “The pain, the pain is so strong. That is all I feel. I was raised that real men don’t cry. I don’t care anymore. I started crying the day after and I cry a lot now and am not ashamed of who sees me…I was supposed to be there. I was to go to work that day. I got up but was sick and I went and laid back down. I turned on the TV just in time to see the second plane go into the building.”

In Luke 4, we read the purpose of Jesus coming to earth.

First Jesus read from Isaiah 61:1-2a.

    “¹⁷   And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
¹⁸   The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised…
²¹   ‘Then he said, ‘This Scripture has come true today before your very eyes!’”

   David Seamands writes, “I define a counselor as a temporary assistant to the Holy Spirit. Both of the italicized words are important. Assistant, because the goal of all Christian counseling is to assist people to become emotionally and spiritually mature enough to relate directly with the Holy spirit, the Great Counselor. Temporary, because dependence on the counselor should never become permanent. If it does, then the counseling itself becomes a part of the problem and not a means of solution; a part of the disease, not the cure. It is only a temporary means to an end, the goal of total dependence on the spirit. However, this in no way underestimates the crucial importance of counselors in the healing process. All through history God has used humans as assistants, not only to carry out His work, but also to ‘stand in the gap’ as His intermediaries who show people what His character is really like. There are vast numbers of people who feel like the scared little girl whose mother was trying to comfort her with the assurance of God’s presence. ‘I know that,’ she said, ‘But I need a God with skin on Him!’ The counselor fills this need. For many counselees, this is the first time in their lives they have experienced a stable, trustworthy, and truly loving (accepting yet confrontation) relationship. Thus the very being of the counselor is the commencement of healing…

   …the uniqueness of memory healing is walking back into our past with the Lord and asking Him to heal us at a specific time and place of need…Our prayers should be to Jesus, asking for His direct intervention and healing presence… Memories include feelings, concepts, patterns, attitudes, and tendencies toward actions which accompany the pictures on the screen of the mind. This is the way the Bible uses the concept of remembrance, or stirring us up to remember something. When Scripture commands us to ‘remember the Lord,’ it does not mean to simply have a mental picture of God. It is a command to whole persons to orient all our thoughts and actions around God…

   …It is the Spirit who takes all that He made possible by His sufferings, death, and resurrection and makes it actual in our lives now. The Holy Spirit is the paraklete. Para-alongside, and kaleo-to call. The One Called Alongside. And Romans 8:26-27 assures us that the Holy Spirit helps us with our infirmities, our cripplings, and our weaknesses. The Greek word for help is a compound of three words meaning ‘to take hold of on the other side.’ It is a beautiful and sensitive picture of the knowing, understanding, caring God who is not participating with us in our healing.” 

"Tired of Trying to measure Up" by Jeff VanVonderen

    Tired of Trying to Measure Up by Jeff VanVonderen Part One was introduced last week. Part Two has so many great thoughts that I decided to continue instead of cutting too much out.

Part Two is titled Healed by Grace. The title of Chapter Nine reads, “God Says You Don’t Have to Live in Shame.”

Sin and Death: Worse Than We Thought

  “At this point, there are several things we all need to grasp about sin. First of all, in my opinion, you and I do not sin because we want to make life worse for ourselves. Rather, we sin because we believe it will make life better. We indulge in a negative behavior because we believe it will improve our situation. And we perform positive behaviors for the same reason.

   Second, anyone or anything from which you and I try to acquire life, value and meaning-outside of the true God-is a false god. Therefore, those positive behaviors aimed at generating life and acceptability for us are sins. So even though what we do may be right, the reason why we do it is idolatrous.

   Third, because you and I lack life and are helpless, no amount of negative or positive external behavior is capable of producing an internal transformation.” Continuing in this chapter the author writes about the problem, about the solution, about the enemy and about the battle.

   In Ephesians 6:10-12, we read about the spiritual battle. Scripture further describes the nature of our battle: “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh.” (2 Corinthians 10:3,4) We are not in a flesh-and-blood battle.

   In order to fight the right battle, we need to understand how to renew our mind. (see Romans 12:2) The author writes, notice that Paul does not say, “Be transformed by trying hard to be a good Christian.”

   “This instruction is so simple. “Be transformed,” in the Greek, is the same word as metamorphosis in English. It means to change from the inside out. But in the Greek it is passive-that is, transformed is something done to us, not by us. Transformation is not our job. It happens as a result of the renewing of our minds.”

   Next Jeff VanVonderen describes the three distinct roles in which God relates to people. God the Father relates as our Source, we are His created children; God the Son relates with compassion as a teacher and sacrifice. The Son did it all on the Cross. (Luke 4:17-21; Hebrews 10:10); God the Holy Spirit relates with his indwelling the believer. (John 14:16, 18) “I will never fail you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5b)

   The book has many more references and more depth on all of these topics. As we read starting in Chapter Eleven “God’s Solution to Shame: A New Creation”

   “The Christian life is a process of learning to live consistently with who we already are in Christ…The gospel’s Good News is that, on the basis of God’s grace and because of Christ’s performance on the cross, we are brand new creations…A Christian is someone who get his life from God. “And I will put My Spirit within you, and you shall live…” (Ezekiel 27:14)

   “Apart From Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5) Real life comes from continuing to depend upon, draw life from, receive our value and acceptance from the Spirit. It comes from learning that what is natural, whether good or bad, is dead and has no real life to offer…Another reminder, “For God is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13) God is right now doing the work in you to change you. It’s an inside job.

Tired of Trying to Measure Up by Jeff VanVonderen